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Who Has Been Born Again?

by Albert L. Winseman, D. Min.

Religion and Social Trends Editor

The "born-again" experience is a significant part of the
American religious landscape, and seems to be a phenomenon with
considerable staying power. Indeed, born-again Christians wield
considerable influence in several areas of contemporary society. So
exactly how many Americans are born-again, and which Americans are
most likely to identify themselves this way?

The percentage of Americans who identify themselves as
"born-again" or "evangelical" did not shift from 2003 to 2004,
according to Gallup data aggregated from each year*. In 2003, 42%
of U.S. adults said they were born-again or evangelical; the 2004
percentage is 41%.

There is little difference between the percentages of men (39%)
and women (42%) who said in 2004 they are born-again; similarly,
there are no significant differences by age. But a few other
demographic categories display fairly typical variations here.

Region and Race

Billy Graham, perhaps the most famous evangelist of all time and
author a how-to book on being born again, is from the South, and
the South has far and away the highest concentration of
born-agains/evangelicals in the country. A solid majority of
Southerners describe themselves as born-again (58%), while just 38%
of those in the South say they are not. The numbers are nearly
opposite in the East and West -- 26% of residents of the East are
born-again, while 69% are not, and 27% of Americans living in the
West say they are born-again, while 64% are not. Midwesterners are
in between these two extremes -- 44% of those in the Midwest
describe themselves as born-again, while 53% do not.

Black Americans are far more likely to identify themselves as
born-again or evangelical, with 63% of blacks saying they are
born-again, compared with 39% of white Americans.

Other Factors

The percentage of born-agains is higher among Americans with no
college education and lower among those with at least some college
education, 49% vs. 33%, respectively. And as income goes up, the
percentage of self-described born-agains goes down: 47% of those
who make $30,000 a year or less claim to be born-again, compared
with 33% of those who make $75,000 or more a year. Finally,
Republicans are far more likely to say they are born-again (52%)
than Democrats (36%) or independents (32%).

Finally -- and not surprisingly -- individuals who attend
religious services weekly or more often are far more likely to
describe themselves as born-again than those who attend services
less frequently. Sixty percent of weekly attendees are
self-reported born-agains or evangelicals, while only 44% of those
who attend less than weekly or monthly and 23% of those who seldom
or never attend identify this way. Not coincidentally, church
attendance is highest in the South and Midwest, and lowest in the
West and East.

Bottom Line

Because a sizable percentage of Americans consider themselves to
be born-again, religious leaders need to take an active role in
response to this trend. They can help their members -- both those
who are born-again and those who are not -- come to a deeper
understanding of the theology of, and biblical witness to, the
born-again experience.

They can also help interpret the terms born-again and
evangelical for a secular society. Religious leaders need
to encourage harmony on this issue. Particularly in a political
climate that remains fairly contentious, there are those who are
inclined to use religious orientation -- particularly the
born-again experience, with its philosophical implications of
repentance and spiritual rebirth -- to divide rather than unite
people.

*Results based on aggregated data from surveys in 2003 and
2004, conducted with 2,003 national adults, aged 18 and older.
Based on this total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that
the maximum margin of sampling error is ±2 percentage
points.

As Global Practice Leader for Faith Communities, Dr. Winseman leads Gallup's research and consulting services that assist faith communities in helping their members become more engaged. He is a co-author of the new book, Living Your Strengths, written to help members discover and use their talents and strengths in their congregations. Before joining The Gallup Organization, he was a pastor in the United Methodist Church for 15 years.

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